Why Vegetarians should eat at steakhouses

Steakhouse meals are like your Thanksgiving table; everyone eats the turkey because it would be kind of sacrilegious not to. BUT- everyone’s favorite dishes are usually the sides. The stuffing, the mac and cheese, the mashed potatoes, the sweet potato casserole, the pumpkin pie, pecan pie….do you see where I’m going with this? You don’t have to miss out on that family dinner at a steakhouse just because you won’t be eating the steak! Here’s how to do it:

{Image via Yelp}

Order Side Dishes

Side dishes at steakhouses are much less expensive than the entrees, and are usually served in huge portions that are perfect for sharing. This is the way I like to eat anyways (snack plates)! For example, take Gibson’s Steakhouse in Chicago. Besides the regular steaks and lobsters, they have many different salads, sides, and desserts. If you eat fish (like we do), you’ll have even more options. Get a Crab Claw, some Oysters, a Wedge Salad (hold the bacon), Asparagus with Hollandaise, and a Cauliflower Gratin with Gruyere.

{Image via Yelp}

Check out the Wine List

If you’re a wine loving vegetarian, you have another reason to go since steakhouses always have a killer wine list. Del Frisco’s in Chicago (pictured below) is a great example; they have thousands of wines to choose from (hello, three-story wine cellar), so you can spend your money on a great wine rather than a steak. Last time we were there, we ordered a couple of appetizers, and then squealed a bit when we found Schoolhouse Pinot Noir on the wine list. If you’re not a wine person, order an Old Fashioned since they’re smoky and classy, kinda like a steakhouse 🙂

{image via jwkpec.com}

See…Just because you’re not eating the meat doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ambiance, people watching, and delicious food/wine!